"Laws can embody standards; governments can enforce laws--but the final task is not a task for government. It is a task for each and every one of us. Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted--when we tolerate what we know to be wrong--when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened--when we fail to speak up and speak out--we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice." -

Robert Francis Kennedy

With the 2016 Presidential debates well underway, I have noticed people from my generation become desensitized and indifferent to voting.

I was sitting in my city's library when I overheard a loud conversation between a few people. They were discussing the elections and whether or not they were going to vote. One person said that he hated politics and wanted nothing more than to end the topic.

He said, "I'd rather not get into politics. If it doesn't affect me personally, I honestly don't care."

The scary thing was that his peers agreed with him. Moreover, what's worse is I have heard some variation of that man's statement from many of my friends and classmates. A friend of mine once said, "So long as I can live my own life with no problems, I don't care." It doesn't matter that there are other people being threatened and in danger. Unless they feel like their way of life is being threatened, people like the guy in the library and my friend choose to ignore politics and refuse to vote.

The ending of that particular library discussion had a couple of people stating, "I'm not going to vote. There's no point because my vote won't make a difference."

That is wholly untrue. Your vote DOES make a difference. I use this analogy with my friends who feel this way: If you have $99 but you need $100 to pay a bill, wouldn't having that one dollar make a huge difference?

There are many people who have voter apathy, who don't vote because they feel what is being debated does not affect them or they simply don't care. This has to change. There have been historical movements that fought for voting rights, such as Women's Suffragist movement in the 1840s, and bills such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson that granted Black Americans the right to vote.

I know some people who jump on the chance to vote for who they want to win on Dancing with the Stars or America's Got Talent but couldn't be bothered to vote during the 2012 Presidential elections.

A professor of mine once said, "If you complain about some law or policy, but you didn't do your part in voting it out, then you have no right to complain."

What my professor said is true. If a person chooses not to vote, they have no right in complaining about the results because they chose to not give their input.

People who don't vote choose to stay silent.

"Indifference creates an artificial peace." - Mason Cooley

As Americans in this modern era, everyone is eligible to vote after they turn 18. We all have the ability to change an outcome of a law, of a Presidential debate.

Everyone has the ability to make a choice.

Choose to care about what happens to other human beings and care about taking part in creating change.

Choose to care about and put strength behind your opinions.

Choose to vote for what you believe in.